To be really freaked out and scared to go to sleep?

[theresabluebirdinmyheart]

This morning when I went to bring my bin in and put it away I realised the bench in my back garden had been moved. It’s a heavy wooden bench and the wind would not be able to blow it. It had been moved closer to my secure 6ft fence. I have a side gate which was still bolted shut.

the bench was where it usually is when I put the bin out last night so at some point during the night last night it had moved.

The only explanation I can come up with is that someone had climbed over my fence during the night and moved the bench to get a leg up over the fence to get back out again.

I am really really freaked out at the thought of this. I have a ring doorbell camera at the front door but no cameras at the back so haven’t got any evidence to prove anyone was there but I just can’t come up with any other plausible scenario than a prowler or potential burglar moved it to gain access over the fence.
I’ve tried to put it out my mind all day but now it’s dark and time to head to bed I’m feeling really sick and anxious. I’m a single mum with a disabled daughter and feeling really vulnerable. Every noise is creeping me out.

Can anyone think of a plausible and less terrifying scenario of how the bench could have moved? To put my mind at ease? Have ordered a camera for the back garden to be delivered tomorrow but fucking hell I feel really afraid.

TL;DR - heavy wooden garden bench moved during the night last night and am freaked out someone was prowling in my back garden and used it to climb over the fence.

I just had a mad image of it folding an intruder up like one or those plants that catch insects 🤣 I'm away to Google what a folding security gate is!

Leave lights/TV on tonight as a deterrent. It will help you sleep better.

Might be worth buying a camera for the back of the house. Amazon have cheap USB ones with good night vision recording and alerts to phone. They're under £20.

I know exactly how you feel, OP. Our village has been hit a few times over the last few months. We've had our cars rifled, our garage and potting shed broken into and power tools stolen and another incident of my number plates being pulled off and put on a stolen vehicle.

My DP works away a few nights a week and I've had a few 'lights on' nights over that time.

I hope you manage to get some sleep.x.

Hi OP. I understand your concern. Yes, leave the outside lights on and a couple of inside lights. Make sure all your curtains and blinds are closed, windows shut, (locked if possible), and external doors are locked and bolted. Close all internal doors. Move keys out of sight and well away from your letterbox. I wouldn't leave a radio or anything on as you do need to be able to hear and assess any unusual noise. The extra camera is a good idea. I'm glad you've spoken to a neighbour. Let your other neighbours know tomorrow too if possible. The general advice is to report it to the police on the non-emergency number, (also tell them you are a vulnerable household), so that it feeds into local intelligence and to your Neighbourhood Watch if you have one. Tonight, I would sleep in your daughter's bedroom with her and put something heavy against the door. I think that way you will get some sleep. I think they're unlikely to come back and try anything if you take these measures. It is possible that it is the same person you saw on your front camera on another occasion. It sounds like you are a carer so please try not to worry and get some rest.

Is there another house behind yours? As a teenager having just left my friend late at night I used to shortcut down the side of the house at the back of ours and over the garden fence to quickly get in. Maybe this is happening here.

I'm thinking a home alone set up?! Sorry just giving some humour.. feel free to message us on here during the night x x have you got anyone else close that would answer their phone in the night?

I've seen videos where the cats were more hostile to an intruder than the dog was! But ultimately the dog is more likely to make someone think twice about intruding over another house without one, which I don't like saying, but is true.

If the situation has got you wishing for a man, you better get yourself a dog asap!😂😂

Outside lights off and leave a rake on the ground in the dark.

It is scary, but don't completely dismiss the wind being to blame. It moved a very, very heavy outdoor table in our garden just before Christmas. We had it on camera. We've had the table for ages and it's never been moved before. It was astonishing to watch!

As your cat is an indoor cat you could have cat fencing put along the top of your fence panels. Quite cheap to do. You need large metal brackets— the sort you’d use to put up shelves in a garage. These go along the top of the fence pointing into you garden, one very metre. Then either strands of wire or chicken wire is attached to strung between the brackets and fixed to each with wire. This prevents anyone getting to the top of the fence and just being able to drop into the garden. It doesn’t look pretty but you can grow something like honeysuckle or ivy to disguise it a bit.
it’ll look similar to this https://www.indooroutdoors.co.uk/products/fenceeasy-cat-pet-protection-fence-extender-brackets?variant=45389524271325&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google+Shopping&currency=GBP&country=GB&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADRY-JCRSws6t-6JcZ2Hd3e1hShdN&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImIuphaXiigMVdJxQBh3QRA8UEAQYBCABEgKnffD_BwE

That’s a really good idea!

I have dogs and honestly as a single parent I swear they are the only reason I feel safe to sleep at night. The cat is indoor but they do let me know by barking over every little noise outside and that makes me feel safer.
I'm similar to you op I have a door ring cam but nothing on back. It's not fair that you're too scared to go to sleep I hate that for you.
Come back to Mumsnet if you get lonely in the night I find it's always active with night owls and that helps calm my anxious mind.
I'm glad your camera for the back is coming tomorrow and so message that neighbour if you feel any concerns

Thank you, you’ve all been very kind, as a carer for my daughter I am somewhat used to wakening nights, the worst part is you’re alone in the wee hours with your own thoughts! I’ve moved my metal kitchen bins in front of the back door, hoping to god nothing happens but if the worst did happen they would make quite a clatter.
We are registered as a vulnerable household so any 999 calls would be quickly responded to.
One of the worst things about the type of estate where I live it’s all cul de sacs with little footpaths and shortcuts everywhere so lots of places for people to lurk and jump fences etc. I felt safer when I stayed in a flat in the middle of the town centre!
I’ll try and watch something lighthearted, I always have the volume low and subtitles on anyway so can keep an ear out, if anyone has any suggestions of a gentle comedy or feel good movie feel free to send them my way!

Misadventures of drunken, but ultimately harmless teenagers? Perhaps having a snog between a compost bin and frosty bird bath?

I doubt they'll come back, Op unless you had cube bikes etc in the shed e. People like that don't tend to return, they just move on. They will have snooped round, seen there's nothing they want and left. I doubt they will have given you another thought. I understand your worry but I'm sure everything will be fine.

Maybe prop some things against the door like a chair or table. Try to get some rest. It is very unlikely anything will happen. Great idea to keep lights, TV etc on and possibly sleep downstairs.

Aah, snogging behind a compost bin... so romantic! OP, if that image doesn't make you fine a rom-com and some Internet dating sites nothing will.

The problem with dogs is if they do randomly start barking in the middle of the night you shit yourself anyways 😅

Lights on is good I think! That's what I do as a single person (dog is hopeless - he's a half deaf 13yr old Yorkie with 12 teeth 🙃). I'd have more luck throwing him at an intruder!

Any weird noises outside and I'd hang out of an upstairs window, and flash my phone torch. That should be enough to get anyone snooping to clear off.

There are houses behind mine but all older couples, one of whom does have a sensor light that is absolutely blinding and very sensitive even to movement in my garden so I wonder if that came on and freaked out whoever it was prowling around which would be why they needed a quick exit over the fence and dragged the bench over to get a leg up as my fence isn’t easy to climb.

My dog is absolutely useless as a guard. She's just so quiet.
However.. My old dogs were equally quiet and when someone did try to break in, they went ballistic.

A dog of the same breed {Whippet} on a Farm held an intruder against a wall until the owner came back, they have useful teeth.

I know how unnerving it can be on your own.

Another thought you can paint non drying paint along the top of the fence. There’s non climb paint too.
Sadly broken glass is no longer allowed ( only joking- I wouldn’t want cats or birds injured)

Do you have a loud rape alarm that you can hang out of an upstairs window and set off if need be?

consider getting an alarm system that you can alarm the downstairs when you are upstairs .

Can you get a camera installed? They're fairly cheap and easy to install. Ours records all activity 24/7.

Your neighbour’s strong PIR light will have put off an intruder. Follow the advice given and try not to worry too much. Easier said than done I know.

Rakes all over the place is a brilliant idea!

~starts looking for cheap rakes on ebay~

I have lived on my own, I felt so safe when DS was here, but he's an adult now, and has his own house now.
He bought me a splitting axe before he left ''for firewood''.{Which I do use it for}..I keep this close to hand, indoors, upstairs.

A lunatic woman wielding an axe hopefully would put someone off!